THIS WEEK IN VISUAL ARTS!

The North Carolina Pottery Center invited NC clay artists to work outside their regular palette by creating a 12x12” canvas, using any medium they desired. The response has been a wide array of creativity, which is only to be expected by the talented potters of NC. On February 4, 2012 the public will have the opportunity to bid on these outstanding palettes and the opportunity to own a canvas. Truly a one-of-a-kind piece to complement any pottery collection! Many of the artists will be featured guests, and there will be several clay creations to complement the canvases available to purchase as well, making it really a one of a kind purchase. The canvases are posted on the NC Pottery Center’s website with absentee bidding offered until February 1, 2012 at 4pm. The fun and festive event begins at 4pm on February 4, 2012 with Irish tunes played by Michael Mahan, Seagrove potter, painter & musician and Phil Winn of Greensboro and includes a scrumptious buffet featuring an array of delicious hors d’oeuvres from gourmet bites to seafood and cheeses to desserts and festive beverages. An event not to be missed! Response from the potters and the public has been hugely enthusiastic. Potters from all areas of NC have painted and the canvases are all are currently on display at the North Carolina Pottery Center. Certain themes have spontaneously emerged including birds, especially roosters, fish, cows, houses, pottery imagery as well as some abstracts and mixed media with some surprises and real gems and many have associated stories, some of which are outlined below. Tickets are $15 per person, or $25 for a pair, and are available through the website or by calling 336-873-8430 and also a limited quantity at the door. We encourage purchase in advance.

Artmongerz February First Friday 610 S. Elm Street; Greensboro. February brings Fresh Art from cutting edge Artmongerz artists. Friday reception on February 3rd 6:00-9:00 complete with intriguing art, refreshments, A LIVING SCULPTURE to be performed by EL CAMBIO (elcambio.webs.com) and LIVE MAGIC BY GUITAR GENIUS PHIL COMSTOCK. For more info call 336.389.0398

Associated Artists of Winston-Salem and Forsyth Futures are hosting two Community Conversations in conjunction with the upcoming summer exhibition, Input/Output: The Art of Visual Data Making. This juried art competition will raise awareness of significant issues facing Winston- Salem/Forsyth County residents through creative data visualization. The competition and exhibition is open to all artists, ages 15 and older, residing in Forsyth County. The exhibition juror is Nicholas Weir, a Graphic Designer with Wake Forest Baptist Health. The AAWS Gallery, located at 301 West Fourth Street, will host two Community Conversations at which Forsyth Futures staff will discuss its 2011-2012 Making Progress Reports and AAWS staff will describe the Artistic Data Visualization process and go over the exhibition prospectus. The conversations are targeted to Forsyth County artists who wish to participate in the juried competition; the general public is also invited. The Community Conversations will be held on Tuesday, February 7, 5:30 – 6:30 pm, and Saturday, February 11, 11:00am – 12:00 pm.

The African American Atelier, Inc. will present its 21st Annual Founding Members Invitational Exhibition highlighting the beginning of its third decade of service to the Guilford County Community. The exhibit which opened Sunday January 15, in the Greensboro Cultural Center, 200 North Davie Street, will feature twenty-one artists including several founding members:(Floyd Newkirk, Alma Adams, John Rogers, Vandorn Hinnant and the late Eva Hamlin Miller) and other invited local, regional talent. The exhibition will run through February 29, 2012. The exhibition is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00am-5:00 pm and Sundays 2:00 pm-5:00 pm. For more information contact the Atelier at (336) 333-6885.

Artists’ Runway Reception Friday, February 3 from 5-7; models walk at 6pm Featuring Work by; Patrick Burger, Ian Dennis, Pat Mauck, Denni McCann, Brittany Sondberg, and Joanna White Lighting Design by Connor “Mac” Smith, UNCSA www.sawtooth.org 251 N. Spruce St. Winston-Salem, 336-723-7395 Gallery Hours are Monday – Friday, 10-6, Saturday, 10-2

Winter Heat An Exhibit of Oils and Collages by Karen McEachin Breit Welborn Gallery Yadkin Cultural Arts Center 226 E. Main Street, Yadkinville 27055 www.yadkinarts.org Guaranteed to warm you up during the coldest month of the year Miami native Karen McEachin Breit’s vividly colored nature-themed oils and contemplative collages will put the heat back into your world. The artist’s unique color sense captures nature’s subtle changes, moods and rhythms. The exhibit runs from January 6 through March 3rd.

THIS WEEK IN THEATRE!

Excitement is in the air for Stokes County and Piedmont theatre goers, as the WINTER DESSERT THEATRE SERIES returns on February 4 with Mike Wiley Productions "Tired Souls", the story of Rosa Parks and The Montgomery Bus Boycott. This memorable performance will be held at the Historic Walnut Cove Colored School/Senior Center, 308 Brook Street in Walnut Cove. In addition, Miss Imani Graves will perform a program of dance beginning at 6:30 p.m., prior to this theatrical production. For tickets or information about the Stokes Arts 2012 Winter Dessert Theatre Series, call 336 593-8159 , or visit www.StokesArts.org.

We Are One Artistic Collective presents 12 ANGRY MEN. 12 jurors decide the fate of a young man accused of murdering his father after the seed of reasonable doubt is planted by one member. Personal experiences and judgements emerge during a spirited deliberation that leads to surprising results. Showtimes January 27 7:30 pm January 28 3:30 & 7:30 pm February 3 7:30 pm February 4 3:30 & 7:30 pm Tickets $10.00 adults $5.00 students Caldcleugh Multicultural Arts Center 1700 Orchard St. Greensboro. 336-373-5881

THIS WEEK IN EVENTS!

50th Anniversary Celebration! The High Point Area Arts Council was founded in 1962 and has been serving the High Point community for 50 years! Join us for a celebration of the arts on Thursday, February 2, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Best Western High Point Hotel, The Queen Anne Ballroom, 135 S. Main Street. The 50th Anniversary Celebration will feature performances by local arts organizations and a reception with complimentary food and beverages. This event is free and open to the public, but you must make a reservation by Tuesday, January 31, to attend. You can register on-line at www.HighPointArts.org or by calling the High Point Area Arts Council at 336-889-ARTS. Free parking is available in the Showplace parking lot.

The Surry Arts Council presents an old-time dance on the first Saturday of each month in the Old-Time Music Heritage Hall at the EARLE Theatre, 142 N. Main Street, Mount Airy. Popular old-time dance band The Slate Mountain Ramblers will provide the music for the dance. Led by Richard and Barbara Bowman, The Slate Mountain Ramblers have become a mainstay at regional fiddlers’ conventions and dances. The dance starts at 7:30 PM. Admission is $5 or 2012 SAC Season Pass. Children 12 and under are free. For more information, please contact the Surry Arts Council at 336-786-7998 or visit www.surryarts.org.

THIS WEEK IN MUSIC!

Please join the UpperlineUp Thursday January 26, 7:30pm at Bin 33 ( 336-609-1833 ) in downtown Greensboro at 324 South Elm Street between Mcgee & Washington. With Roberto Orihuela on vibraphone & percussion, Bil Jenko on piano, Jeff Weichinger on bass, Jim Hoyle on drums & Nishah DiMeo on vocals, we will be performing many of the cuts featured on our album "Strike", along with both contemporary & classic jazz, latin, swing & blues.

Visit these sites for more events around the Triad!